Alas, there’s also the small things to consider. Things like unplugging a sink, planning a week of meals, or getting a stain out of a white shirt. No one teaches you these things! (To be fair, maybe they did, and you just weren’t listening at the time).

Thankfully, the internet is a wonderful place that’s chock-full of advice for those of us who are a little clueless when it comes to fending for ourselves.

These 15 websites and apps are great to have on your phone or in your bookmarks folder. Then, no matter what crisis happens, you’ll be able to handle it on your own.

This budget-friendly site features simple, delicious meals with an estimated price breakdown per serving. Many of the dishes cost easily under $2 a plate, and the creator rotates through a variety of cuisines.

This is easily one of the richest databases of recipes on the internet. Allrecipes is an amazing resource for those learning to cook. Use this site to search for recipes by ingredient, by key word, or by category. No matter what recipe you choose, be sure to check the comments for additional tips and tricks!

If you would rather learn by seeing than by reading, consider trying out a YouTube channel dedicated to cooking. An example of a great cooking channel is Simple Cooking Channel, which features both full meals and simple snacks. Each recipe is broken down into easy-to-follow steps and video so that you can follow along at your own pace.

If the instructions on Simple Cooking Channel aren’t quite right for you, YouTube has a wealth of cooking channels. So, do some hunting, and find one that best fits your learning style.

You might find it a bit easier to complete a home maintenance project after you’ve actually watched someone do it first. If your go-to handymen don’t live nearby anymore, the next best thing is a YouTube channel like VideoJoeKnows.

6. The Family Handyman DIY Tip Genius

The incredibly long name of this app aside, it’s a great way to have DIY tricks at your fingertips, no matter where you are. Before beginning a repair or project, take a moment to do a quick search on this app. Hopefully, one of the tips that it offers will make your job easier!

All these options aside, if a project seems dangerous or could cause a lot of issues for you down the road, it’s probably still a good idea to call a professional (especially if you are renting).

Learning All About Laundry

If you’ve never really had to do laundry before, it can be an overwhelming task. These quick reference guides can help to make sure that your whites stay white, and your sweaters don’t shrink.

7. Laundry Guide

While the app’s interface may be a little out of date, its information on laundry certainly isn’t. Whether you are doing your laundry at home, in a dorm, or at a laundromat, this app offers you quick access to decoding all the wash symbols and fabric types.

Once you have this information, the app recommends settings like water temperature, wash type, and dryer temperature, making doing the laundry essentially foolproof.

Sure, this website isn’t very flashy. But, it gives you all the information you could ever want about removing stains from your clothing, carpets, or upholstery.

Simply click on the link for the kind of stain you’re fighting, and follow the steps listed. Much of the time, several variations on stain removal will be offered for a single kind of stain, giving you options if you don’t have certain materials on hand.

Becoming Better at Budgeting

After you move out on your own, you may start to fly through your paycheck like never before. The fact is, little purchases add up — and there are many tiny purchases involved in everyday life when you’re the only one around to buy them!

Google Sheets is a great option for this, as it allows you to access your budget from any device with an internet connection. However, if you have concerns about security, you may want to use an offline spreadsheet or only include non-sensitive information (e.g. balances, not account numbers) in your budget.

Creative Approaches to Cleaning

It’s amazing how many things you don’t realize need to be cleaned until no one else is around to clean them. Worse yet, there are a lot of things in houses that are very difficult to clean if you don’t know how. When you’re left staring at a mess that you have no idea how to begin cleaning, these resources can be invaluable.

Bright Nest is an all-in-one app designed to help you keep your home clean and organized. Enter some basic information about your home when first signing up, and you’ll be given information tailored to your needs.

From cleaning your blender, to cleaning grout, to uncommon uses for toothpaste, this website has everything you need to maintain a spotless home. If you sign up for a free account, you’ll also receive reminders to clean certain areas of your home at set times. This ensures that you’re never left with an impossible amount of mess; instead, cleaning up will always be a manageable task.

If what you need is a no-nonsense approach to common household messes, Cleanipedia should be your go-to website. Step-by-step solutions are given through video, text, and images for everything from washing windows, to removing odors, to dealing with household pests.

Search for any cleaning problems you are having by keyword, location in the house, or type of activity. Many solutions also offer tips to ensure that your problem doesn’t occur again. As well, Cleanipedia places a lot of focus on injury prevention and safety in all of their recommendations. This focus is incredibly valuable, as it ensures your safety while you work to keep your home clean.

13. Magazine Websites

Many magazines known for their housekeeping tips also have useful websites. Some of the best online resources for housecleaning and organizational strategies are Real Simple, Better Homes and Gardens, and Good Housekeeping. All of these sites are full of creative ideas, common sense advice, and cleaning strategies that are sure to help you figure out how to take care of your home.

Touring Your New Town

Living on your own is about so much more than just staying in the house. Now that you’re on your own, you have a whole new city to explore and new experiences just waiting for you to discover them! These tools can help you to be sure that you are living your best life in your new location.

Trip Advisor is great for finding restaurants off the beaten path, beautiful places to walk or jog, and inside secrets from locals about events and festivals. These insider perspectives will make you feel like you belong in no time.

The fastest way to feel like you belong in your new locale is to have a good understanding of where things are, and how to get there. Google Maps is your best bet on both counts. Spend as much time as possible looking up destinations, exploring Street View, and getting to know the transit system in your area. With just a little bit of research, you’ll quickly be navigating your new city like a pro!

Transitions Are Tough

Let’s face it, moving out on your own is a huge transition, and there’s no way you’ll ever be fully prepared. That being said, take the time to look up these resources and others like them. Having places to turn to for answers when you don’t have a built-in support system can make a world of difference.

If you run into a problem that I don’t have an answer for in this list, don’t despair! Take a few moments to search for the answer on a platform like Pinterest (especially good for creative solutions to everyday problems), YouTube (best for walkthroughs and visuals), Wikihow (although the expertise of the author may vary) or, of course, your favorite search engine.

Are there any other sites that you have found helpful while living on your own? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Briallyn is an occupational therapy student by day... and by night, too. Currently living in the middle of nowhere in Canada, with a love for all forms of social media, novels, and chocolate chip cookies. Follow on Facebook and Twitter